Department for Transport

Cars: Accidents

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 30 January (HL Deb col 415), how many car accidents have occurred in the UK in each of the last five years in which the glare of car lights was recorded as either the main or a contributory factor leading to the crash.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The number of reported personal injury road collisions in Great Britain involving at least one car, and which had the contributory factor ‘vision affected by dazzling headlights’ assigned to the collision by a police officer attending the scene, is shown in the table for each of the last 5 years for which data are available. Year*A - Vision affected by dazzling headlights*B - Total collisions involving at least one car201729281,385201825074,507201925869,249202018051,813202120857,915 Notes*A - Collisions involving at least one car, where ‘vision affected by dazzling headlights’ was recorded as a contributory factor *B - Total collisions involving at least one car where a police officer attended and at least one contributory factor was recorded

Public Transport: Females

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take in response to the recommendations of the report Transport Champions for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, commissioned by the Department for Transport; and in particular, how they intend to respond to the five "first order priorities".

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: We have an action plan which sets out how we will respond to the Champions’ recommendations. We are working with partners across industry and Government and are making good progress on delivery. This includes giving consideration to personal safety as part of the forthcoming Local Transport Plan guidance (recommendation 1); identifying opportunities to improve the collection of gender disaggregated data and data on experiences of safety on transport, for example via the National Travel Attitudes Study (recommendation 2); working with Home Office on the ‘Enough’ communications campaign (recommendation 3); reviewing current training across the transport industry (recommendation 4); and engaging with the Home Office on DBS and vetting (recommendation 5). We expect to report on progress on the 13 recommendations in autumn this year.

Cycling: Accidents

Lord Marlesford: To ask His Majesty's Government how many fatal accidents involving cyclists riding after lighting-up time without lights have occurred in each of the last five years.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The table below shows the number of fatal road collisions in Great Britain reported by the police using the STATS19 system where a police officer attended the scene and allocated the contributory factor ‘Not displaying lights at night or in poor visibility’ to a pedal cyclist involved in the collision.YearFatal collisions2017220183201942020420214

Bus Services

Lord Bradshaw: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will continue to support the bus industry after the end of March when the existing revenue support mechanisms expire; and what plans they have to give Traffic Commissioners notice of that decision in order to plan for any service withdrawals.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government has made available nearly £2 billion since March 2020, through emergency and recovery grants, to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the bus sector. This support is currently in place until the end of March 2023. The Department is actively considering its support for the bus sector from April 2023 and will set out further details shortly. We are actively engaging with operators, local authorities, and the Office of the Traffic Commissioner to ensure they are aware of this and that they receive sufficient notice. We welcome the recent statement published by Traffic Commissioners that they will seek to support operations with the notice period for changes to registrations.

Motor Vehicles: Noise

Lord Truscott: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to restrict excessively noisy motor bikes and cars in urban areas, including enforcement action to protect local residents from noise pollution.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The police and local authorities have existing powers to tackle excessively noisy and illegally modified vehicles.To support enforcement efforts, the Department has commenced roadside trials of the latest ‘noise camera’ technology. These trials are taking place to determine whether noise cameras can be an effective tool for the police and local authorities to enable more targeted and efficient enforcement. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout.

Railways: Strikes

Lord Cruddas: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) the Mayor of London, (2) the London Assembly, and (3) the various London Boroughs, about suspending (a) charged parking bays, (b) the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), and (c) the Congestion Charge, on the days of train strikes to enable people to attend work and appointments more easily.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: While the Department for Transport works closely with Transport for London (TfL) on a range of issues, transport in London is devolved and is the responsibility of the Mayor of London (MoL) and TfL. This includes decisions on the Ultra Low Emission Zone and the Congestion Charge. Parking policy is also a devolved matter for both TfL and the London boroughs. The public can hold the MoL to account for his decisions, including ULEZ, at the ballot box in 2024.

Union Connectivity Review

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the timeframe for full implementation of all the recommendations of the Union connectivity review.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review, published in November 2021, considered transport connectivity across the UK. Considering the scale and breadth of the review, we are taking the time necessary to consider Lord Hendy’s recommendations.  We will publish our response as soon as is practicable.

Railways: Franchises

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they keep archive records of all train operating company franchise agreements since privatisation; and if so, what is the archive and disposal policy for privatised railway related documents.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department for Transport does keep archive records of all train operating company franchise agreements since 1994, and subsequent rail contracts. The Department adheres to the legislative guidance for retention and archive of documentations as specified under the Public Records Act 1958 (as amended by the Public Records Act 1967) and section 46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 published in 2009. Other legislation relating to public records which Public Authorities adhere to can be accessed at the National Archives website.

Department of Health and Social Care

Ophthalmic Services: Children

Lord Blunkett: To ask His Majesty's Government what was thetotal NHS expenditure on outpatient paediatric ophthalmology services in 2021/22.

Lord Blunkett: To ask His Majesty's Government what was thetotal NHS expenditure on general ophthalmic services activity in 2021/22; and what proportion was on (1) NHS sight tests, and (2) NHS optical vouchers.

Lord Markham: The table below sets out the cost to the National Health Service in England in financial year 2021/22 of providing General Ophthalmic Services. These figures are derived from draft accounts and will not be finalised until they are published on the NHS England website. £ millionProportionNHS Sight Tests30756.6%NHS Optical Vouchers incl. Repairs & Replacements22241%Other General Ophthalmic Services contract costs132.4% The table below shows the cost for secondary care organisations submitted via the National Cost Collection for outpatients within Treatment Function Code ‘Paediatric Ophthalmology’, for the financial years 2019/20 and 2020/21, which is the latest available data. £ million2019/2043.72020/2150.5

Hospices

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the increased (1) cost of living, and (2) cost of energy, on hospices in England.

Lord Markham: No assessment has been made. Palliative and end of life care, including hospice care, is commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs) in response to the needs of its local population. Any assessment would therefore be made at a local level.At a national level, NHS England have released £1.5 billion additional funding to ICBs to provide support for inflation, with ICBs deciding how best to distribute this funding within its system. This is in addition to the support provided by Government through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme and the new Energy Bill Discount Scheme which will run from April 2023 until March 2024 and continue to provide a discount to eligible non-domestic customers, including hospices.

Cancer: Diagnosis

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure early diagnosis of cancers in England.

Lord Markham: Improving early diagnosis of cancer is a priority for the National Health Service. That is why one of the core ambitions in the NHS Long Term Plan is to diagnose 75% of cancers at stage 1 or 2 by 2028. The NHS is implementing non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways for patients who do not fit clearly into a single ‘urgent cancer’ referral pathway, but who are at risk of being diagnosed with cancer. 99 NSS pathways are currently operational across England, with more in development. To encourage people to get in touch with their general practitioner if they notice or are worried about symptoms that could be cancer, NHS England is running the ‘Help Us, Help You’ (HUHY) campaigns, which seeks to address the barriers that are deterring patients from accessing the NHS. The current HUHY campaign is focused on addressing fear of cancer as a barrier to presentation across all cancer types. NHS England is in the process of planning HUHY activity for 2023/24.

Bowel Cancer: Screening

Lord Balfe: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 7 February (HL5154), what is the upper age limit for screening for bowel cancer; and whether those who have been screened in the past but have now passed the previous upper age limit for screening will be invited to re-apply under the new rules.

Lord Markham: The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening programme is currently offered to people between the ages of 60 years old and 74 years old. The programme is expanding to make it available to everyone aged 50 years old to 59 years old, this is happening gradually over four years and started in April 2021. If people over the age of 74 years old have concerns about bowel cancer, they should speak to their general practitioner who will determine the best course of actions to take.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Baroness Eaton: To ask His Majesty's Government how many children and young people received inpatient mental health care from (1) private mental health providers, and how (2) NHS children, adolescent and mental health services (CAMHS), in each of the 10 years preceding October 2022.

Lord Markham: The table below details the number of children and young people aged 17 and under receiving inpatient care from National Health Service providers and non-NHS providers. Information for NHS providers is for all mental health inpatient services as there is not a defined or agreed reporting methodology solely for children and adolescent mental health inpatient services.YearNHS providersNon-NHS providers2016/172,4291,0752017/182,4981,1602018/192,7201,2332019/202,7311,0282020/212,3978182021/222,1611,012 Source: NHS Mental Health Services Data Set 1. This information includes all the children and young people under the age of 18 who have been admitted (i.e. were an inpatient at any point in the year) to Non-NHS and NHS providers.2. We are not able to provide data prior to 2016 as the children services were not in scope in the previous datasets.3. The number of providers submitting data has changed over time (i.e. 92 in April 2017 to 350 in April 2022).

Social Services: Reform

Baroness Wheeler: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to bring together the different (1) initiatives, (2) white papers, and (3) funding streams, into a clearer plan for social care reform.

Lord Markham: In spring 2023, the Government will publish a plan for adult social care system reform. This will set out how we will build on the progress so far to implement the vision for adult social care set out in the People at the Heart of Care white paper, published in December 2020.The plan will include key milestones for reform, including for workforce, data and technology. The final Local Government Finance Settlement, published on 7 February, sets out the resources available to local authorities in 2023/24, including for adult social care services.

Public Health: Finance

Lord Porter of Spalding: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the level of funding of the public health grant to local authorities.

Lord Markham: At the Spending Review 2021, we considered the need for local authority public health funding and confirmed that the public health grant to local authorities would increase over the settlement period. In 2022/23, the Grant increased by 2.81% to £3.417 billion. This is in addition to targeted investment through local Government in start for life support and drug and alcohol treatment services.We will announce 2023/24 Public Health Grant allocations to local authorities shortly, and in doing so will consider the impact of changes to pay and inflation trends and forecasts since the Spending Review.

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Equality

Lord Blencathra: To ask His Majesty's Government which protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 the Ministry of Justice routinely (1) collects, and (2) publishes data on, in respect of prisoners.

Lord Bellamy: The nine protected characteristics are as follows:AgeGender reassignmentBeing married or in a civil partnershipBeing pregnant or on maternity leaveDisabilityRace including colour, nationality, ethnic or national originReligion or beliefSexSexual orientation The data for age; gender reassignment; being pregnant or on maternity leave; race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin; religion or belief; sex and sexual orientation is collected and published regularly.The data for disability and being married or in a civil partnership is collected but not published.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Pakistan: Minority Groups

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan regarding its Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act 2022, and the impact the legislation will have on religious minorities in that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Protecting minority communities is a key part of the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. I [Lord Ahmad] discussed the need to safeguard the rights of religious minorities during my meeting with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on 30 January, and raised proposed amendments to the blasphemy laws. I also discussed the importance of promoting respect for all religions during my meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on 14 December 2022.

Iraq: Jews

Baroness Deech: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Iraq on compensation for property deprived of the Iraqi Jewish community in the 1940s and 1950s.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has not specifically discussed compensation for property deprived of the Iraqi Jewish community in the 1940s and 1950s with the Government of Iraq. However, the UK is firmly committed to protecting ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq, including the Jewish community. We regularly discuss the importance of the rights of minority communities with the government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government and we will continue to press these issues.

Iraq: Cultural Heritage

Baroness Deech: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Iraq on the preservation of Jewish heritage sites in that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is firmly committed to protecting ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq, including the Jewish community. We regularly discuss the importance of the rights of minority communities with the government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional government. We recognise the importance of protecting and preserving religious heritage sites for groups and through British Council and HMG funding we have delivered eight cultural heritage projects in Iraq. We will continue to highlight the importance of the preservation of heritage sites with the government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government.

Jerusalem: Religious Buildings

Baroness Deech: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 30 January (HL4764 and 4765), what assessment they have made of the Jewish right to visit, as distinct from worship at, the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif);and the significance of this right for the peace process.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK believes in the importance of upholding the 'Status Quo' arrangements, which enable all three Abrahamic faiths to worship in the Old City of Jerusalem. In the view of the UK, the Status Quo is clear that those of other faiths are able to visit the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, but that only Muslims are permitted to worship there. A final determination of the status of Jerusalem should be sought as part of a negotiated settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. Until then, the Status Quo preserves the safety and security of the holy sites and those who visit and worship there.

Jordan and Saudi Arabia: Religious Freedom

Baroness Deech: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of (1) Jordan, and (2) Saudi Arabia, on the admission and freedom of worship of Jews in those countries.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not raised the freedom of worship of Jews as a standalone issue in either Saudi Arabia or Jordan. However the UK discusses Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and wider human rights on a regular basis with the Saudi and Jordanian authorities. Promoting the right to FoRB is a longstanding human rights priority for the UK and we will continue to engage with governments, civil societies and human rights groups to ensure that people of all faiths, including Jews, are able to practice their religion without persecution or fear.

West Bank: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the expulsion of Palestinian residents from the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank; and what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about protecting the rights of those individuals, including the 500 children already expelled.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is clear that in all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolitions and evictions are contrary to international humanitarian law. Our opposition to the demolition of Palestinian property and the evictions of Palestinians from their homes is long-standing. The practice causes unnecessary suffering and is harmful to efforts to promote peace. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation. I reinforced this message during a visit to a UK-donor-funded school facing demolition on 12 January in Masafer Yatta and raised Masafer Yatta with the Israeli ambassador to the UK on 26 January.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the formation of a new government in Israel, what assessment they have made of the prospects for the human rights of (1) Palestinians living in Israel, (2) Palestinians living in the Occupied Territories including East Jerusalem, and (3) the Palestinian diaspora.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Human Rights are a crucial element underpinning the UK's foreign policy. The UK continues to engage with the Israeli government on human rights issues where they exist. We call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation. The UK remains committed to a two-state solution, as I made clear in my meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki, during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 10-13 January.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of the Israeli blockade of Gaza on people living there; and in particular, what assessment they have made whether the treatment needs for cancer patients in Gaza are being met.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We urge access into and out of Gaza - in accordance with international humanitarian law - for humanitarian actors, reconstruction materials, and those, including Palestinians, travelling for medical purposes. We are in close contact with UN agencies and key partners on the ground to assess the situation and will monitor closely. The wounded and ill in Gaza and the West Bank should be able to access the urgent medical care they need. Officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv and our consulate-general in Jerusalem frequently urge the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to take steps to improve conditions in Gaza, including easing movement and access restrictions.

Iraq: Refugees

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the number of Iraqi refugees and asylum seekers in Jordan; and what assistance they have provided to such refugees and asylum seekers.

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what assistance they have provided to the government of Iraq to establish the conditions necessary for Iraqi refugees to return from Jordan.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported 65,724 Iraqi refugees registered in Jordan in November 2022. In 2022 the UK supported 70,000 vulnerable refugees in Jordan with cash assistance to cover basic needs such as food and shelter and 150,000 refugee children to access education. The UK does not distinguish its support between Iraqi and other refugees but instead targets its support to the most vulnerable through UN agencies.Since the expansion of Daesh in 2014, the UK has committed over £370 million in humanitarian and stabilisation assistance in Iraq to support communities across Iraq, including the reconstruction of areas affected by conflict and creating the conditions for displaced Iraqis to be able to return home. This includes £5 million to provide technical assistance to the Government of Iraq to improve its capacity to support displaced communities to return home and improve the coordination of services available to them. We continue to work with the Government of Iraq to ensure that areas affected by conflict are adequately support and that any returns are safe, dignified and voluntary.

Republic of Ireland: Public Service

Lord Rogan: To ask His Majesty's Government how manyofficial representatives of the government of the Republic of Ireland are employed in the UK; and at which locations.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have interpreted "official representatives" to mean diplomatic agents or consular officers. Article 1(e) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 defines "diplomatic agent" as "the head of the mission or a member of the diplomatic staff of the mission". Article 1(1)(d) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 defines "consular officer" as "any person, including the head of a consular post, entrusted in that capacity with the exercise of consular functions".The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) publishes details of foreign embassies, high commissions and consular posts in the UK on gov.uk, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk. This page includes the London Diplomatic List which contains the addresses and contact details of all embassies and high commissions, as well as the names of heads of mission and other diplomatic agents appointed in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. The entry for the Embassy of Ireland, as of February 2023, lists 24 diplomatic agents in the locations set out below.Embassy of Ireland17 Grosvenor Place SW1X 7HRPassport & Visa Office114A Cromwell Road SW7 4ESIn addition, consular officials are appointed to the Consulates General of Ireland in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Manchester. FCDO records list 6 consular officers appointed to the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh; 3 consular officers to the Consulate General of Ireland in Cardiff; and 2 consular officers appointed to the Consulate General of Ireland in Manchester.

Nigeria: Non-governmental Organisations

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the safety of British (1) aid workers, and (2) others, working within Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nigeria, particularly in the North East, has resulted in 8.3 million people requiring some form of humanitarian assistance. However, growing insecurity presents a high-risk environment for all aid workers as impediments to humanitarian access have increased. As enshrined in International Humanitarian Law, aid workers must never be a target of violence. Our aid programmes in Nigeria support partners to advise on safety and facilitate sustained and unhindered humanitarian access for aid workers, including through our funding for the UN Humanitarian Air Service and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Private Education

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: To ask His Majesty's Government how much money they have spent on the Continuity of Education Allowance programme in respect of the families of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office staff in each of the last 10 years; and how many children have benefitted from that programme.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The details of the number of children, and how much the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have spent in each of the last 10 financial years on the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) policy are in the table below:Academic YearTotal SpendTotal Number of Children2012/13£12,640,489.056842013/14£14,651,331.966372014/15£14,322,691.286282015/16£13,440,797.706162016/17£13,870,134.566042017/18£13,531,420.705182018/19£14,060,063.385112019/20£14,916,298.065252020/21£14,951,945.415142021/22£14,410,903.45531*Figures may differ from previously published figures due to process changes/financial systems over the last 10 years

Pakistan: Minority Groups

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of forced marriages and conversions of women and girls from religious minorities in Pakistan; and what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding this practice.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Protecting women's rights is central to the UK Government's human rights engagement in Pakistan. I [Lord Ahmad] raised forced conversions in my meeting with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, on 14 October 2022. I also conducted a roundtable discussion in Pakistan with human rights stakeholders on 15 October, discussing gender-based violence. In December 2022, the UK announced sanctions against Mian Abdul Haq, a Pakistani cleric who is responsible for the forced religious conversions and forced marriages of non-Muslims and minors.

Great Lakes Region: Armed Conflict

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation in the Great Lakes, further to the intensification of conflict there since 24 January; and whatsteps, if any, they are taking with international partners to de-escalate the situation between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We continue to raise ongoing tensions with the Governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the highest levels, with a focus on the need for de-escalation, respect for sovereignty, and dialogue through regional processes. In January, the Minister of State for Africa & Development urged the Rwandan and DRC Foreign Ministers to meet the commitments made under the Nairobi and Luanda political processes. It is vital that all parties work together to secure real de-escalation on the ground and an enduring political solution. The UK has committed funding support to the Nairobi political process to this end and continues to support the humanitarian needs of the populations caught up in conflict.

Nigeria: Development Aid

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government whether British aid to Nigeria is conditional on equality of access to that aid from those of all faiths and non in that country.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: UK Government aid is delivered impartially and based on need. We focus our aid investment and expertise on the highest priority issues where we can make the most difference and achieve maximum impact in Nigeria. Everyone has an equal right to UK Government aid regardless of their beliefs. In Nigeria, our humanitarian assistance programme is aligned with the UN Humanitarian Response Plan, which is focused primarily on North East Nigeria, due to the extremely large scale and deep severity of humanitarian needs there.

Egypt: Police

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will list the names of all training courses for Egyptian Police they have supported over the past five years; and in respect of each course (1) who provided the training, (2) which body within the Egyptian Police force received the training, and (3) what was the source of funding.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has provided training to the Egyptian police focussed on reducing the risk to British Nationals from terrorism and has also funded training via the UN in how to investigate and prosecute smuggling and human trafficking. We do not comment on counter terrorism training delivered by HMG or UK police forces, however all our programmes have robust measures in place to ensure compliance with the UK's domestic and international human rights obligations.PQ127927 lists training provided by the College of Policing. FCDO also provided CSSF funding for one training course via the UN:Tackling Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (2018). UNODC delivered training to Egyptian police officers in Egypt.

Ministry of Defence

Army Reserve

Lord Colgrain: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the target size for the number of personnel in the trained strength of the army reserve force; what is the total figure for trained strength of the reserve; and how many recruits there are in each arm or corps of the army reserve.

Baroness Goldie: As at 1 October 2022, the Army Reserve had a trained strength of 23,030. It is planned to grow to 30,100 under Future Soldier plans, of which c.3,000 will be untrained personnel. The below table shows a breakdown of recruits, i.e. untrained personnel, in the Army Reserve, as at 01 October 2022: Arm / Service Yeomanry120Royal Regiment of Artillery180Corps of Royal Engineers210Royal Corps of Signals130Infantry1,120Army Air Corps50Royal Army Chaplains’ Department10The Royal Logistic Corps310Royal Army Medical Corps200Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers70Adjutant General’s Corps, Staff & Personnel Support30Adjutant General’s Corps, Provost Branch40Adjutant General’s Corps, Educational and Training-Adjutant General’s Corps, Army Legal Services Branch-Royal Army Veterinary Corps-Small Arms School Corps-Royal Army Dental Corps-Intelligence Corps120Royal Army Physical Training Corps-Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps40General Service Corps/General List10Others-Source: Analysis (Army)Notes/Caveats: Table 1 figures are for Army Reserve Group A only. Group A is a subset of Volunteer Reserves and includes Mobilised Volunteer Reserves, High Readiness Reserves and OTC support & training staff (it excludes Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS), Additional Duties Commitment (ADC), Volunteer Ex-Regular Reserve (VeRR), Non-Regular Permanent Staff (NRPS), and Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI). Trained figures include all personnel who are Basic Trained. Untrained figures include all personnel who are undergoing Basic Training. "Others" include Group A personnel serving with UOTC units and those who have yet to be allocated an Arm/Service on the Joint Personnel Administrative System (JPA). The data has been rounded to the nearest 10 to limit disclosure and ensure confidentiality. "-" denotes zero or rounded to zero.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food: Waste

Lord Shipley: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Benyon on 19 January (HL4205) which noted a need for additional data on farm stage food waste, what plans they have to include farms in the mandatory reporting of food waste policy.

Lord Benyon: Defra consulted between June and September 2022 on options to improve food waste reporting, including consideration of a mandatory approach for food businesses. We received 3,851 responses to the consultation and the Government response will be published in 2023. This response will set out the Government’s plans in relation to improving food waste reporting, including food businesses in scope if a mandatory approach were to be taken forward.

Biodiversity

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government whether any department monitorsloss of wild plant, insect and animal life, such as butterflies, and if so, who; and what steps they have taken to ensure maintenance of biodiversity.

Lord Benyon: Defra uses a number of indicators to track changes in the abundance and distribution of species. A summary of these indicators is available in the England Biodiversity Indicators publication available at GOV.UK. The indicators include data from a number of different species monitoring schemes, which are carried out by a range of organisations including Defra and its arm’s length bodies, research institutes, non-governmental organisations and private individuals (often as part of citizen science initiatives) In England we have set four legally binding targets for biodiversity:- By 2030: to half the decline in species abundance- By 2042: to reverse declines; to reduce the risk of species extinction; and restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat. These targets will drive actions to support biodiversity in Hertfordshire and every other county across England. We have set out our plan to deliver on these ambitious targets, along with our other environmental targets, in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) published on 31 January 2023. The EIP23 revises the 25-Year Environment Plan as part of our obligations under the Environment Act. Included, we link the different objectives, plans and mechanisms for recovering nature. Progress towards the species abundance targets will be measured using an indicator that tracks changes in the relative abundance of widespread and priority species that are characteristic of different broad habitats in England. The indicator will include abundance data for 1,195 species, including mammals, birds, fish, plants, butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates.

Farms: Tenancy Agreements

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend farm tenancies under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995.

Lord Benyon: The Government recognises that farming is a long-term business, and we are keen to explore ways to encourage more landlords and tenants to consider longer-term tenancy agreements while retaining the flexibility that Farm Business Tenancies currently provide. We are currently reviewing the Rock Review recommendations on encouraging longer-term tenancies in more detail and will respond later this year. There is also a role for industry leadership and best practice guidance setting out the options and benefits for tenants and landlords of longer-term agreements.

Farms: Tenancy Agreements

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask His Majesty's Government when the Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG) will report on farm tenancy agreements.

Lord Benyon: The Tenancy Reform Industry Group (TRIG) is a valuable advisory body with an interest in all issues relating to agricultural tenancies. When required, the Group provides the Government and industry with advice, information, guidance and evidence on agricultural tenancies. TRIG is a valuable forum to discuss current agriculture tenancy and associated issues and when appropriate engages and seeks advice from other experts within the industry. For example, TRIG has recently published industry-led guidance on tree planting and agricultural tenancies and a code of good practice for projects, schemes or works that require landlord consent. While TRIG has no immediate plans to provide a report on farm tenancy agreements, the Government will continue to discuss farm tenancy issues with TRIG on an ongoing basis.

Common Land

Lord Crathorne: To ask His Majesty's Government what their timescale is for progressing the Commons Act 2006 and expanding its coverage beyond the current pilot areas.

Lord Benyon: There is currently no timescale for implementing the registration provisions as set out in the Commons Act 2006 for the remaining commons registration authorities in England.

Home Office

Asylum: Children

Baroness Eaton: To ask His Majesty's Government how many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have been identified in adult asylum hotels run by the Home Office in the last year, following an initial incorrect assessment.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). These statistics can be found at Asylum and resettlement datasets:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasetsUASC application data is located within table ASY_D0. The Home Office does not hold data for the number of UASC identified in adult hotel accommodation in a reportable format and it would require a manual search of records which would incur a disproportionate cost.Asylum applications, decisions and resettlement (xlsx, 9026.3KB)

Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government how any lessons from the Home Office Detention engagement team at the Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre will be shared across the detention estate.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: We remain focused on the specific needs for women in our care and Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) is operated in line with the Detention Centre Rules 2001, published operating standards for IRCs and Detention Services Orders. It is routine for best practice to be shared across the Detention Engagement Teams and we have robust mechanisms in place for staff to raise issues or concerns with senior leaders. Derwentside, as the sole female only IRC, presents both unique challenges and opportunities. Published guidance, and the training received by detainee custody officers makes it clear that physical force, and the use of waist restraint belts or handcuffs, should only be used after a thorough assessment of risk, and in consideration of each individual’s personal circumstances. Restraints should be removed at the earliest opportunity.The Home Office reviews all reports resulting from a use of force to ensure that techniques are used proportionately, that they are justified, and are used for the minimum period required. Since the inspection took place Control and Restraint instructors have attended the centre to provide additional coaching and incident management support to staff. A bespoke package of training commenced in November 2022 and monthly use of force review meetings commenced in September 2022. In addition, the supplier centre manager reviews all incidents involving use of force, following a review undertaken by the supplier duty director. All use of force incidents are additionally peer reviewed by the supplier’s use of force committees from two other IRCs (Heathrow and Dungavel) to provide an additional layer of governance and independent scrutiny.All staff working with women receive appropriate gender specific training (such as the protocol for entry to bedrooms), in addition to any generic training they receive when they undergo initial training, and undertake appropriate refresher training, this includes equality and diversity, human trafficking and modern slavery. Detention Service Order 06/2016 Women in the Detention Estate sets out the minimum provision of services for women and can be found on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/women-in-detention.Women in Detention Estate (pdf, 2047.6KB)

Immigration Removal Centres: Females

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they provide concerning the supervision of women by male officers at immigration removal centres; and whether they will review the use of male officers for supervision of women at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: We remain focused on the specific needs for women in our care and Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) is operated in line with the Detention Centre Rules 2001, published operating standards for IRCs and Detention Services Orders. It is routine for best practice to be shared across the Detention Engagement Teams and we have robust mechanisms in place for staff to raise issues or concerns with senior leaders. Derwentside, as the sole female only IRC, presents both unique challenges and opportunities. Published guidance, and the training received by detainee custody officers makes it clear that physical force, and the use of waist restraint belts or handcuffs, should only be used after a thorough assessment of risk, and in consideration of each individual’s personal circumstances. Restraints should be removed at the earliest opportunity.The Home Office reviews all reports resulting from a use of force to ensure that techniques are used proportionately, that they are justified, and are used for the minimum period required. Since the inspection took place Control and Restraint instructors have attended the centre to provide additional coaching and incident management support to staff. A bespoke package of training commenced in November 2022 and monthly use of force review meetings commenced in September 2022. In addition, the supplier centre manager reviews all incidents involving use of force, following a review undertaken by the supplier duty director. All use of force incidents are additionally peer reviewed by the supplier’s use of force committees from two other IRCs (Heathrow and Dungavel) to provide an additional layer of governance and independent scrutiny.All staff working with women receive appropriate gender specific training (such as the protocol for entry to bedrooms), in addition to any generic training they receive when they undergo initial training, and undertake appropriate refresher training, this includes equality and diversity, human trafficking and modern slavery. Detention Service Order 06/2016 Women in the Detention Estate sets out the minimum provision of services for women and can be found on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/women-in-detention.Women in detention (pdf, 2047.6KB)

Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the governance and practice of the use of force at Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre, identified as an issue of concern in the Chief Inspector of Prisons' first inspection report of the centre.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: We remain focused on the specific needs for women in our care and Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) is operated in line with the Detention Centre Rules 2001, published operating standards for IRCs and Detention Services Orders. It is routine for best practice to be shared across the Detention Engagement Teams and we have robust mechanisms in place for staff to raise issues or concerns with senior leaders. Derwentside, as the sole female only IRC, presents both unique challenges and opportunities. Published guidance, and the training received by detainee custody officers makes it clear that physical force, and the use of waist restraint belts or handcuffs, should only be used after a thorough assessment of risk, and in consideration of each individual’s personal circumstances. Restraints should be removed at the earliest opportunity.The Home Office reviews all reports resulting from a use of force to ensure that techniques are used proportionately, that they are justified, and are used for the minimum period required. Since the inspection took place Control and Restraint instructors have attended the centre to provide additional coaching and incident management support to staff. A bespoke package of training commenced in November 2022 and monthly use of force review meetings commenced in September 2022. In addition, the supplier centre manager reviews all incidents involving use of force, following a review undertaken by the supplier duty director. All use of force incidents are additionally peer reviewed by the supplier’s use of force committees from two other IRCs (Heathrow and Dungavel) to provide an additional layer of governance and independent scrutiny.All staff working with women receive appropriate gender specific training (such as the protocol for entry to bedrooms), in addition to any generic training they receive when they undergo initial training, and undertake appropriate refresher training, this includes equality and diversity, human trafficking and modern slavery. Detention Service Order 06/2016 Women in the Detention Estate sets out the minimum provision of services for women and can be found on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/women-in-detention.Women in the Detention Estate (pdf, 2047.6KB)

Immigration Bail

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to secure more appropriate bail accommodation for those released from immigration detention.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The Home Office work with our providers on a daily basis to ensure that there is sufficient accommodation available to meet our needs.Asylum seekers released from immigration detention on bail are housed in Home Office asylum accommodation. Our providers manage the security of accommodation sites and have security staff on site 24 hours a day.When on bail in asylum accommodation, Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) will be subject to bail conditions such as regular reporting to the Home Office and GPS electronic monitoring.

Slavery: Prosecutions

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) thelow rate of prosecutions under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and (2) the need for more effective enforcement.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: The Government is committed to tackling the heinous crime of modern slavery and bringing the individuals responsible to justice. Modern slavery is a complex and multi-faceted crime, and offenders can often be prosecuted or convicted for offences under different legislation. There has been a continued uplift in law enforcement activity since the Modern Slavery Act (MSA) was passed in 2015, which has led to a significant increase in the number of live police modern slavery operations, from 188 in December 2016 to at least 3,555 in December 2022. This has also had an impact on prosecutions with an increase from 267 in 2020 to 466 in 2021. We are continuing to invest in the police to support them to improve the response to modern slavery in England and Wales to drive-up prosecutions and build trust with victims. A total of £16.5m has been provided by the Home Office since 2016, including £1.4m in 2022-23 to the Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit.

Asylum: Domestic Abuse

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byLord True on 14 December 2022 (HL Deb col 702) in which he committed to providing information previously requested by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbredeabout protection for people fleeing domestic violence when making asylum applications from countries designated as "safe" countries, when they willprovide this information.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: Detailed Home Office policy guidance provides a framework for considering asylum claims, including those based on domestic violence, and every asylum claim is carefully considered on its individual merits. This includes those from nationals of countries which are designated as “safe”; assessing all the evidence provided by the claimant against a background of published country information.Protection status is normally granted where a claimant has a well-founded fear of persecution under the Refugee Convention or a claimant faces a real risk of serious harm. Refusals will attract a right of appeal unless the claim is certified. We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they would face persecution or serious harm.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Private Rented Housing

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the repeal of section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 on the future supply of private rented accommodation.

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to introduce the Renters’ Reform Bill.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: The English Housing Survey provides information on households and housing stock. The proportion of Private Rented Sector households has remained relatively stable for nearly a decade; the PRS was 19% of households in 2013-14 and continues to be at 19% according to the latest data for 2021-22.  The repeal of Section 21 which is a manifesto commitment will give security of tenure to millions of tenants, empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases. We will bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Private Rented Housing: Pets

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards increasing the availability of pet-friendly housing for people renting their homes.

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their A Fairer Private Rented Sector white paper, published on 16 June 2022, whether they intend to introduce legislation to allow more people to be able to own a pet in their rented home; and if so, when.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: The Government has committed to giving tenants the right to request a pet that the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. We will amend the Tenant Fees Act 2019 so that landlords can require insurance to cover damage to their property caused by pets. We will legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Private Rented Housing: Evictions

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of amending section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to vary notice periods in line with length of tenancy as an alternative to repeal.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Ensuring a fair deal for renters remains a priority for this Government, and we will legislate in this Parliament to abolish Section 21 'no fault' evictions'.Under our new reforms, we will take a proportionate approach to the period of notice that a landlord must give when using grounds for possession. Tenants must be given sufficient time to find appropriate alternative housing when their landlord requires possession of a property. These changes will sit alongside comprehensive, fair and efficient grounds to ensure landlords have confidence they can regain possession to their properties when it is reasonable.

Department for Business and Trade

Health Professions: Migrant Workers

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that sponsor organisations regularly change contractual terms for overseas healthcare employees without the agreement of the individuals concerned.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: The Government expects all employers to treat employees fairly and in the spirit of partnership. The Department of Health and Social Care has recently published guidance aimed at candidates who are applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad, including information on working rights and standards. Employers are strongly encouraged to follow the guidance available on gov.uk and the Acas website when considering changes to terms and conditions of employment.

Department for International Trade: EU Law

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government which retained EU laws the Department for International Trade is planning to reform or revoke in the event of a passage into law of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: Individual departments are in the process of assessing their REUL and developing proposals for whether they intend to revoke or reform each piece of legislation or preserve it from the sunset. We will be ambitious but mindful of ensuring that businesses and stakeholders are engaged and consulted in the usual way on policy changes, whilst upholding commitments already given at the despatch box. It is right that, 7 years after the British public voted to leave the EU, and 3 years since we formally left, that the programme to review, revoke and reform retained EU law is underway, and we take advantage of our new freedoms.

Trade Agreements: Maldives

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Maldiveswill be granted the same trade agreement as other Commonwealth Small Island States and no longer be charged 20 per cent tax on fish exports to the UK from their sustainable tuna line fishing; and if so, when.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: The UK currently applies the UK Global Tariff of 20% to imports of tuna from the Maldives. This rate is also applied to imports from all other trading partners where preferential arrangements are not in place. The Government continues to explore pragmatic opportunities to enhance bilateral trade relations with the Maldives in areas of mutual interest, including fishing.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Local Government: Carbon Emissions

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to put finance rules in place to support the requirement for local authorities to account for their carbon emissions.

Lord Callanan: Local authorities are not required to account for their carbon emissions but the Government is supporting local authorities to help them reduce the carbon emissions from their areas. This is set out in the Net Zero Strategy.

Treasury

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the (1) percentage, and (2) value, of goods transported from Great Britain to Northern Ireland that are intended to remain within the Northern Ireland market.

Baroness Penn: In 2021 only a sixth of goods moving into Northern Ireland were determined to be at risk of entering the EU’s market under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The total value of goods moving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain was £12.4 billion.

Customs

Viscount Waverley: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the forecasted additional number of customs declarations they will need to process as a result of the UK leaving the EU; and what additional resources they have earmarked for HMRC in order to process them.

Baroness Penn: Customs declarations are already required for all imports and exports and are being successfully submitted into HMRC systems and processed electronically. In 2020, the total number of customs declarations submitted for international trade was 45.4 million, from UK trade with Non-EU countries. In 2021, the total number of customs declarations submitted for international trade was 78.3 million, made up of 42.9 million from UK trade with Non-EU countries and 34.3 million from GB trade with EU countries. Customs declarations may also be required by the Northern Ireland Protocol on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As a large organisation HMRC can and do build flexibility into our plans to ensure we have the necessary resources for future requirements as well as more immediate delivery

Public Sector: Pensions

Lord Porter of Spalding: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the average daily savings in pension contributions employers have made on days lost to strike action in the public sector, including strike action in the rail and postal sectors.

Baroness Penn: For members of public service pension schemes, strike days count as unpaid leave, and employer and member contributions are based on actual pay. Part of the reduction in paybill caused by industrial action in the public sector, as well as rail and postal sectors, will thus be due to reductions in employer pension contributions. The Government has not made a central assessment of this figure, which will depend on a number of factors such as the exact number of staff within a given workforce who are on strike on a given day and the typical amount of pensionable earnings foregone.

Public Expenditure

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assess the (1) effectiveness, and (2) appropriateness, of funding through the Barnett formula for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review the operation of the Barnett formula.

Baroness Penn: Whilst we recognise the Barnett formula is not perfect, all allocation systems have strengths and weaknesses. The Barnett formula is simple, efficient and provides a clear and certain outcome. For this reason, it has stood the test of time. The Barnett formula ensures the same change in funding per person across the whole of the UK, while the underlying baseline funding reflects that needs are higher in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The devolved administrations are receiving over 20% more funding per person than equivalent UK Government spending in other parts of the UK.

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Reform

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received on the reform of Stamp Duty Land Tax as it applies to lease extensions and thresholds.

Baroness Penn: Stamp Duty Land Tax is paid by tenants on leases, depending on their value. It is charged to reflect that the tenant is taking an economic interest in land or property, and to prevent avoidance. There are no current plans to change this position. All aspects of Stamp Duty Land Tax policy are kept under review.

Customs Declaration Services Programme

Viscount Waverley: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect the Customs Declaration Service for exports to be implemented; and whether that meets the original timetable.

Baroness Penn: All export declarations must be made through the Customs Declaration Service by 30 November 2023. This had been due to implemented by 31 March 2023 but has been extended after feedback from the border industry highlighted that they would appreciate more time to help prepare their customers and undertake training with new software products. The extension has been welcomed by industry partners.

Customs

Viscount Waverley: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to continue promoting Authorised Economic Operator status to business, and (2) to ensure such businesses receive the published benefits.

Baroness Penn: HMRC continues to promote Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status and to look for opportunities to develop the benefits of the scheme. HMRC is improving guidance along with the application and authorisation process to improve the experience of businesses looking to obtain AEO status. HMRC works closely with teams at the frontier to ensure AEO businesses receive the associated benefits.